Coin separators



1958 F. w. HOBAN CGIN SEPARATORS Filed Oct. 18. 1955 I N V EN TOR. fine/ 7510 fli /V05/l/v United States Patent COIN SEPARATORS Fairfield W. Hoban, Babylon, N. Y.

Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,232

1 Claim. (Cl. 133-3) This invention relates to an improvement in coin separators usually employed in connection with coin detectors or similar devices adapted for vending machines.

Applicant is aware of numerous developments in that art and appears as patentee of Patent No. 2,170,897, dated August 29, 1939, for a similar device.

The present invention has the advantage of being of a very simple, inexpensive and effective construction which will positively separate coins of different sizes. This device is not to be considered as a coin detector since it will separate coins only as to their sizes when placed in the device, irrespective of whether they are genuine coins or slugs of the sizes of coins.

It is to be noted that the device to be described hereinafter is intended to show the principle of its operation and is not limited to the separation of only three coin sizes, as indicated, but may be used for separating a greater variety of coins.

The prime object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and positively operating coin separator having but one coin receiving opening at one of its ends and a plurality of coin discharge openings at either one or both of its sides.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a coin separator having a single coin receiving passage and a plurality of outlet passages, one for each coin denomination, and in which device are provided numerous fixed coin guides and a number of mobile coin directors cooperating with these guides, and wherein for each of the coins to be handled by this device there is provided an inclined ledge for receiving the coin and for causing it to discharge from the device.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a coin separator adapted for the reception through one coin inlet of coins having different diameters and wherein fixed and mobile means are provided for guiding coins, changing their course of progress and ultimately directing them onto inclined ledges from which they are conveniently discharged according to their sizes into either specific receptacles or towards a coin detector for further scrutiny.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and impor tant advantages of the present invention will become more fully evident from the ensuing description of the accompanying drawings, which latter are primarily intended to explain the working principle of the device, without limiting this invention to the actual structure shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device with the front cover or closure removed;

Fig. 2 is a top end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar front elevation of the device showing the principal structure thereof but with the mobile coin directors removed;

Fig. 4 is a top view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken approximately along lines 7 7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 6 of a modified form of the device with a portion of the side removed but provided with a cover; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmental front elevation of Fig. 8 with the front or cover plate partly cut off.

The illustrations in the drawing disclose a series of nested channels (see Figs. 2, 4 and 5), although in ultimate production the body of the device is intended to be made as a one-piece structure provided with a removable cover, which at present is only indicated as a plate.

As clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4 there is employed an outer or main channel member 10, and-nested within the latter there is a second channel member 11 and within the second channel member is a third channel member 12. The webs of all three members are fixedly joined with one another as seen in Fig. 4 to form a solid rear wall or back 13 of the structure.

It will be also observed that the width of the flanges 10' and 10" of main channel member 10 is constant throughout the length of the device, whereas flanges 11' and 11" of second channel member 11 are reduced in width and are cut to a certain shape as shown in Fig. 7. In that figure it will be also seen that the width or height of the flanges 11', 11" is considerably greater than the width or height of the flange portions 12, 12" of third channel member 12.

The distance between the flanges of channel member 10 is such as to accommodate and guide a coin, say the largest coin to be handled by the device, edgewise through the separator. The flanges of second channel member 11 are designed to guide edgewise a smaller coin and the flanges of third member 12 are adapted to guide edgewise the smallest coin. The bodies or" the flanges of channel member 11 are so shaped that their upper portions slant in what may be termed outward directions, indicated at 14in Fig. 7. These inclined flange portions are designed to support the largest coin along one of its faces. Similarly the inclined portion 15 of the flanges of third chan-' nel member 12 are adapted to temporarily support and guide the second largest coin along one of its faces. The flanges of all three members may be considered as inred or stationary coin guides.

At the upper end of main channel member 10 there is pivotally suspended at 16 between its flanges what may be termed a main coin director 17, see Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8. This coin director comprises a strip having several bent or curved portions, clearly seen in Fig. 7, and wherein the first bend is indicated at 18, a second bend is indicated at 18, a second bend or curvature 19, a third bend 20 and a fourth bend at 21. apertured at 22, see Fig. 1.

Referring again to the several bent areas of main coin director 17, these areas provided first an outwardly biased portion 23, then a substantially vertical portion 24, then an inwardly inclined portion 25, and depending from that portion extends a short vertical portion 26. The specific shape ofmain coin director 17 is adapted to effect co- -action with the inclined edge 14 of flanges 11 and 11 of second channel member 11 as will be presently explained. v

Attached centrally at 27 to the hinged area of main coin director 17 is a spring blade 28 constituting the second coin director, clearly seen in Fig. 7. This spring blade is bent outwardly at 28' and again inwardly and terminates in an outwardly bent lip 29. Blade 28 extends through aperture 22 of the main coin director and normally rests against a solid portion 30 (see Fig. 7)

located between the flanges 12, 12" of third channel member 12 (see Fig. 3), and its broadened continuation 30 extends downwardly between the flanges of main channel member 10, see Figs. 3 and 7, the upperedge' The body of main director 17 is of which solid portion 30 forms a chute 31, the purpose of which latter will be explained presently.

Also attached to the hinge area of main coin director 17 but being hingedly supported between brackets or similar suitable means 32 is a third coin director 33, which comprises a fork-shaped structure having depending legs 34. The latter straddle the second coin director 28 and also project into aperture 22 of main coin director 17 and are adapted to normally bear against back 13 of the device. A hinge pin 35 for coin director 33 is supported in brackets 32, and in turn serves as support for coil spring 36 normally urging legs 34 against back 13.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 6 and 7 it will be observed that from solid portion 30' there extends an inclined ledge 37 adapted to receive and support the largest sized coin and to facilitate the coins discharge through the lower end of outlet passage 38 provided in flange it)" of main channel member 10. Ledge 37 bridges the flanges of main channel member 1% see Fig. 3. A second inclined ledge 39 is provided above ledge 37 and extends between flanges 11 and 11" of the second channel member 11, and serves for the reception, support and ejection of the next smaller coin. A third inclinedledge 40 is arranged between solid portion 30 and the web of main channel member It This ledge is formed by recessing the webs of channels 11 and 12 as seen at 40' in Fig. 7. That ledge extends between the flanges 12' and 12" of the third channel member 12. The space provided between the rear face of solid portion 30 and the front face of the web of main channel member 19 by recessing the webs of channels 11 and 12 is suflicient to accommodate the smallest coin. Ledges 39 and 40 are shown in the drawing to be in alignment with one another. However these ledges may be inclined reversely to one another if so desired. To facilitate the discharge of coins from ledge 49 there is provided a coin discharge passage 41 in flange of main channel member 10.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 the coin separator is meant to be mounted vertically or substantially so, in which case main coin director 17 will assume its normal, vertical position shown in Fig. 7 by gravity action, that is, it simply will depend from its pivotal point 16 so that its lower end 26 will normally abut ledge 37, see Figs. 7 and 8. It is to be noted that between the hinged upper end of main coin director 17 and the upper end of the front surface of back 13 there is formed a single coin-receiving passage 42 which is designed to accommodate coins of all denominations or sizes to be handled by the coin separator. In the modified form of the device seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the main coin director 17' is constructed in substantially the same manner as shown in Fig. 7 but is held in its normal position by a very light spring 43 or by an arrangement of two very light springs (not shown) for holding the coin director in its normal position, that is, with its end 26 abutting ledge 37. With such modified arrangement of holding coin director 17' at its normal position, the device can then be mounted at slightly inclined positions, as long as coins deposited in the device will readily pass through and discharge.

Operation When the largest coin, indicated in broken lines at 44, is inserted into the separator it glides over inclined edges 14 of flanges 11, 11" of the second channel member 11 and causes an outward deflection of main direc-,

tor 17 until it passes the highest point of incline 14, whereupon it travels along the vertical edges of flanges 11, 11" and is deflected by the inwardly inclined portion 25 of director 17 and thus is directed onto ledge 37, which when dropped through aperture 42 is deflected by the inclined portion 15 of channel flanges 12 and 12" against the second coin director 28, causing the latter to move outwardly, thus tensioning it, whereupon coin director 28 will press the coin backwards against the vertical edges of flanges 12 and 12". The coin then slides downwardly until it drops onto ledge 39 over which it rolls and finally is discharged through the upper portion of discharge opening 38 in flange 10" of the main channel member.

The smallest coin, indicated at 46, when dropped through coin insert passage 42 will cause an outward movement of the third coin director 33 which in turn will cause the coin to drop onto chute 31, from where it drops onto ledge 40 and rolls out through aperture 41 provided in flange 10" of the main channel member.

The same procedure of directing the coins of different denominations or sizes onto their respective ledges and out through their respective discharge apertures takes place in the modified form shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

As indicated above it is obvious that the disposition-of the inclined ledges may be varied and that, for instance, discharge apertures can be provided in both sides of the device. It is also obvious that the device is not restricted to the separation of only three coins such as a quarter, a nickel and a dime, but may be arranged for the reception of larger coins such as a half dollar, or intermediate coins such as pennies.

As stated at the start of this specification, the arrangement of a series of nested members can be substituted in production by a single die casting having all the requirements necessary for properly guiding, deflecting and directing coins through the separator and discharging them. It is also obvious that coin directors need not be exactly of the construction shown, and that changes, modifications and essential improvements to facilitate manufacture and assembly on a large scale may have to be made.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a cover for the separator is omitted. However such cover 47 is indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, and can be in the form of a simple plate or can be a shallow, removable channel, which can be snapped over the side edges of the device. Such modification being obvious, no illustrations are submitted.

While in the foregoing specific forms of the device are described, it is obvious that changes and modifications such as above indicated for the purpose of facilitating production and assembly on a large scale, may have to be effected, such changes and modifications being believed to reside within the scope of the present invention as defined in the annexed claim.

What is claimed as new is:

In a separator for coins of different sizes, a coin guide structure comprising'a substantially channel-shaped main coin guide member, second and third substantially channel-shaped coin guide members nested within the main member so that the webs of all members are joined to form the rear wall of the device, the width of the second member being greater than that of the third member, the flanges of all members serving as edge guides for different coins, the flanges of the second and third members being of different heights and lengths and being shaped to serve as coin deflectors for different coins, a main coin director with an apertured body portion pivotally suspended at one of its ends from one end and between the flanges of the main member so that a coin passage is formed between the pivoted end of the main coin director and the web of the third member; a second coin director secured at one of its ends to substantially the central area of the pivoted end of the main coin director, its other, free end extending through the aperture of the main coin director and being normally biased toward the rear wall of the device; a third, fork-shaped coin director pivotally suspended at one of its ends from the pivotedend of the main coin director, its fork-shaped.

blades straddling the second coin director and extend ing between the flanges of the third member, spring means normally urging the third coin director against the webs of the joined members; a main ledge extending between the lower flange ends of the main member and serving as discharge chute for the largest coin, a second slanting ledge for the next smaller coin connecting the lower ends of the flange portions of the second member, recesses provided in the web bodies of the second and third members, and a third slanting ledge for the smallest coin located in these recesses and adjacent to the web of the main member and extending between the lower ends of the flanges of the third member, and a coin chute for the smallest coin located between these latter flanges and being inclined toward the web of the main member for directing the smallest coin onto said third slanting ledge, the flanges of all members adjacent to the lowermost ends of the three ledges having apertures to provide discharge passages for coins, said main coin director and the coin deflector of the second member serving for guiding the largest coin onto the main slanting ledge; the second coin director and the coin deflector of the third member being adapted to cause the next smaller coin to drop upon the second slanting ledge; and the fork-shaped free ends of the third coin director serving for directing the smallest coin toward the chute and hence upon the third slanting ledge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

